GROWING POT OKAY

Judge Rules Activist Can Cultivate Marijuana For Personal Use

Medicinal-use pot crusader Grant Krieger can grow his own dope as
long as he doesn't pass it on to his pain-suffering friends, a judge
ruled yesterday.

And Justice Darlene Acton also said legislation prohibiting people
from cultivating their own marijuana for medicinal purposes is
unconstitutional, giving the feds a year to change it before her
ruling comes into force.

"This is very much ... a victory," Krieger said on the steps of the
court house following Acton's decision. "This means that the cannabis
plant is now also accepted for multiple sclerosis as a beneficial
aid."

But Krieger admitted the victory was tempered by the fact Acton said
it is still illegal to produce marijuana for others.

"I guess they have to go down to the C-Train station by the public
library," he said.

In permitting Krieger to grow his own supply, Acton said it was
"absurd" the federal government allowed for exemptions to the law,
but didn't provide the drug.

"There is no legal source for cannabis," she noted. "The exemption
triggers the absurdity that to obtain a product one has to take part
in an illegal act," she said, adding it would open a "Pandora's box"
of problems if she permitted dope distribution for philanthropic
reasons.

Acton noted the pharmaceutical industry is strictly regulated and it
would be inappropriate to allow individuals to bypass the rules.
Krieger, who says dope eases his pain from multiple sclerosis and
allows him to walk, still faces a charge of possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

A trial date is expected to be set Jan. 10. He also faces two
charges of breaching probation by having dope while ordered not to.
Those are both in court later next month.